Courtney Barnett

Courtney Melba Barnett (born 3 November 1987) is an Australian singer, songwriter, and musician. Known for her deadpan singing style and witty, rambling lyrics, she attracted attention with the release of her debut EP, I've Got a Friend Called Emily Ferris. International interest came with the release of The Double EP: A Sea of Split Peas in October 2013.

Barnett's debut album, Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit, was released in 2015 to widespread acclaim. At the 2015 ARIA Music Awards, she won four awards from eight nominations. She was nominated for Best New Artist at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards and International Female Solo Artist at the 2016 Brit Awards. In 2017, she released Lotta Sea Lice, a collaborative album with Kurt Vile. Her second album, Tell Me How You Really Feel, was released in 2018 to more acclaim.

Early life

Courtney Melba Barnett was born in Sydney on 3 November 1987. Her middle name comes from opera singer Nellie Melba. She grew up in Sydney's Northern Beaches area. Her mother was a ballerina. When she was 16, her family moved to Hobart. She attended St Michael's Collegiate School and the Tasmanian School of Art. Having grown up listening to American bands, she discovered Australian singer-songwriters Darren Hanlon and Paul Kelly, which inspired her to start writing songs. While pursuing a music career, she worked as a pizza delivery driver.